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The World Health Organization is warning of a 'relentlessly increasing threat to children' across the globe from measles.

“We want to make sure that people are aware that it's possible to get this disease – it can lead to really severe outcomes – and there are ways to prevent it,” said Dr. Varun Shetty, Chief State Epidemiologist for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Measles: 136,000 people died from infection in 2022. 37 countries experienced major outbreaks, compared to 22 the year before. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted vaccination programs in many countries. Countries in Africa are particularly affected, but also India, Indonesia and Brazil. Since 2000, more than 56 million lives have been saved by vaccination. Around 83 percent of people worldwide have received a first vaccine dose in their lifetime, 74 percent a second. However, according to the WHO, 95% of people would have to be vaccinated to prevent major outbreaks.

From 2021 to 2022, measles deaths increased 43 percent.

More than 77,000 doses of a monoclonal antibody shot that protects infants from severe respiratory syncytial virus are headed to providers.